Verghina, also spelled Vergina , archaeological site and ancient capital of Macedonia (Modern Greek: Makedonía) in Imathía nomós (department), northern Greece. It is situated on a plateau 47 miles (75 km) southwest of Thessaloníki, at the eastern foot of the Vérmio (also spelled Vérmion) Mountains, on the southern edge of the Haliakmon plain. Surrounded by oak and beech forests, it is named after a legendary queen of ancient Beroea (present Véroia, capital of the nomós). Verghina was built on a city site from the Stone Age and was first called Balla. The palace of Palatista, partly destroyed by fire, dates from the reign of Antigonus Gonates III (c. 263–221 bce), who defeated Cleomenes III, king of Sparta (died c. 219 bce). Near the palace there is an Iron Age cemetery that dates from the 10th to 7th centuries bce. Most of the early royal tombs in Macedonia are intricate subterranean structures built of limestone, usually with a vaulted roof. The later temple tomb of the 3rd century is constructed of marble and limestone. A Macedonian necropolis at Verghina contained objects such as silver jewelry, gold and iron swords, bronze ornaments, brooches in geometric shapes, and various weapons.

Hades abducting Persephone, wall painting in the small royal tomb at Verghina (Vergina), Macedonia, …

Manolis Andronicos

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...and volume. A few of the white-ground vases exhibit this technique in a discreet fashion, but its true potential comes out in the great cycle of wall paintings that decorate the small royal tomb at Vergina, in Macedonia. The paintings, executed in the 4th century bc, represent the abduction of Persephone by Hades. The figures are defined less by an outline technique than by complicated...

...He wrote of his discoveries in Hoi vasilikoi taphoi tes Verginas (1978; The Royal Graves at Vergina) and Vergina: hoi vasilikoi taphoi kai hoi alles archaiotetes (1984; Vergina: The Royal Tombs and the Ancient City).

...The name of the archaeological site in northern Greece where the reputed funeral casket of Philip was found in 1977 led to the designation of that symbol (shown on the casket) as the “Star of Verghina.” Greeks hailed this as a great cultural treasure of their country and were therefore deeply opposed to its display on the flag of Macedonia. Greek economic and diplomatic pressure...